I tell dog stories.
Pioneer : “One who begins or helps develop something new and prepares the way for others to follow” Yes! Dogs were health care pioneers. Over the years, certain dogs have improved and advanced health care in a myriad of ways: The Mercy Dogs of World War1 helped save lives in the trenches of World War. … Continue reading How Can a Dog Be a Pioneer?
I tell dog stories. For as long as I can remember I have been reading and telling dog stories. Now I write stories about dogs , the human-animal connection, and animal assisted therapy at the intersection of animals and human health. As a masters level registered nurse, Certified Professional in Health Care Quality and a … Continue reading Writing Where Dogs and Health Care Meet
Wondering if your rescue dog has a calling as a therapy or Reading Assistance Dog ? For many human handlers and their rescued pooches, the benefits of volunteering together in animal assisted activity is a life changing experience. Therapy dogs and their human partners bring comfort and cheer to those who may need it. Walk down … Continue reading Sit, Stay, Serve: The Road From Rescue Dog to Therapy Dog
Every rescued dog has stories to tell. This is Junior, my rescued golden retriever's, favorite. Junior, my therapy dog partner, started his golden retriever days alone, locked most of his first year of life in a crate . At eleven months old, he was sent to a shelter. He was rejected for adoption three times … Continue reading Too Many Georges? in which Junior Gets His Name
I spent a day at the Lone Star Ink Writers Conference here in Dallas this weekend. It was a delightful mix of sessions for many genres with all levels of writers gathered to learn craft and develop community. The best treat of all was the venue- it was held in a Public … Continue reading Books, Writers and Stories Oh My!- A Day at The Lone Star Ink Writers Conference
Labels. They bother me. We are so much more than a label. Meet Junior, my partner. Here he is the month we adopted him. When we first met, he was an 11 month old homeless golden retriever in an animal shelter. He came into my home as a foster dog, waiting for his forever home. He … Continue reading I hate labels
(This post was previously posted on thedailyjuniorblog.com) Why is losing a pet so hard? For many of us, pets are family. They love us unconditionally. Grief is a normal response. But sometimes loss of a pet involves disenfranchised grief, a loss that is not acknowledged by society. We must often grieve our pets in secret. … Continue reading Why is Losing a Pet So Hard? Disenfranchised Grief
This is part of an article first published in Fido Friendly Online Magazine: No Dog Left Behind June 2011. It was awarded second place in the national No Dog Left Behind Essay contest. They are the days you never forget. Their images are burned in your heart forever. In September 2008, we were scheduled … Continue reading The Trip Before The Storm: No Dog Left Behind
We know when we see cruelty. We feel it. We cringe. At least most of us do. But can we fully describe kindness? We describe kind acts and compassionate behavior.But the acts that show kindness and compassion for living things are broader than just absence of cruelty. I wonder if we include all acts of … Continue reading Kindness: Can dogs show us the way?